JakeB

Morale of the story – NEVER meet your literary heroes!

We went to a Q&A session with Mr Chabon last week. There were some inane questions from the floor, but he answered them kindly so we were reassured that he wouldn’t mind us asking some of our own when we got our books signed.

How wrong we were! He was really snotty. Maybe he was tired, maybe we didn’t kiss ass enough, maybe we hit a nerve. We only asked if he would revisit any of his earlier characters (who have already appeared in a couple of his novels) – so it was hardly offensive.

Still don’t know what to make of it, but Michael’s definitely off the Xmas card list.

A second year on 43T and still going strong. Yr 2 wasn’t so much about communicating with other 43Ters, but rather monitoring and keeping my goals on track.

Again, looking back it was a year of planning culminating in some manic activity at the end of 06. We spent most of the year saving money & holiday for our big trip to Tokyo, NZ & San Francisco. Absolutely worth the effort and the best holiday that I’ve had so far. For me, it was a lifetime ambition to make a long-haul trip and in part, this was kept alive by 43T.

Travelwise, we also managed to fit in Florence & Paris. The former was everything that I had imagined – the latter great fun.

The other massive change for us was that we decided to sell our house and embark on a massive adventure. Part one involves renting in central London, but we are now working on the second, most ambitious part of the plan. I feel positive, yet scared as we are really having to take a leap of faith. However, it’s something that we completely want to do in our lives so we are determined to succeed. I hope to be able to report good news at the end of this year.

Looking forward to a busy 2007. My main focus will be the secret goal above, food and writing.

Happy (belated) New Year to everyone. I hope you manage to travel a little further on your personal journeys this year.

Seems like a very involved, interesting indivitual.

He wants to do and has done a lot that I want to in my life.

An amazing 2005!

It was hard work, but the rewards were huge.

Highlight was of course getting married, which turned out to be better than both of us ever imagined (both on the day and afterwards). Close family & friends, beautiful surroundings, exceptional food and wine and a lovely partner to share it with. Couldn’t have asked for more.

Travel was varied. We went to fantastic N. England with it’s whitewashed houses, pumpkins and tasty clam chowder. We sampled a sumptuous cassoulet in Paris after climbing Notre Dame. We walked to Canterbury Cathedral with friends. We ate cream teas in 90degree sunshine on a terrace overlooking Lake Windermere.

Hobbies picked up pace (with the help of 43T -thanks to all of you – this website is a great invention!). Lots of cooking in the house + walking it off again. Collecting some more art. Eating at some of London’s great restaurants, taking photos, watching films. Not to mention completing my first Nanowrimo (finished novel to follow).

Office life was manic, but challenging and I put all the lessons that I learned at my last place into practice resulting in a promotion so will be starting back at higher level & with more money. I never had this as a goal on 43T, but I have now reached a personal milestone in my career which I will continue to develop in 2006.

Saw lots of friends and caught up with some old ones. Family visits were also regular and great fun.

I hope that 2006 will be continuation of all the above with emphasis on writing in particular, further travel, cooking and walking.

A Happy New Year to all of you!

I’ve read all his books bar two. He takes stylistic risks and pulls them off. His writing is outstanding and gets better with each new novel. What more can I say?

I was never fond of animation until I saw Spirited Away by Miyazaki. Castle in the Sky is probably one of my favourite films. He is total in his film-making – the visuals, the ideas, the characters are all so well-formed. I get a deep sense of satisfaction from watching his work.

Because she is so multi-talented.

www.superherodesigns.com/journal

I read her blog almost daily for nuggets of inspiration. I also own one of her necklaces – everyone loves it.

I met him once and congratulated him on his novels, but he was very embarrassed by the whole affair. Sorry Philip, but I think your books rock and deserved the praise – I also like your suits too, by the way. Very man about town.

I’ve been reading Iain Banks’ novels (with or without ‘M’) on and off for years. Respect both his talent and the fact that he is so prolific cross-genre. And he knows a lot about whisky which always helps.